'Appalling' alcohol abuse prompts pub closure

The ''appalling'' aggravated alcohol abuse at Heffs Hotel
is behind a Liquor Licensing Authority order for the South
Dunedin premises to be temporarily closed for part of this
week.

The authority suspended Heffs' on-licence for three days from
7am tomorrow.

It said since the on-licence was issued in October 2011, the
licensee failed to take appropriate steps to reduce liquor
abuse in the premises, and liquor abuse had been aggravated.

Licensee Patricia Clark (73), of Dunedin, was the sole
director of PC Bar Ltd. Her son and Heffs operating manager
Stephen Clark was the sole shareholder.

''If there had been but one incident involving an intoxicated
person on the premises during the `probationary year' the
situation would have been bad enough. For there to have been
five intoxicated persons on the premises over diverse dates
is appalling and raises questions as to the suitability of
the licensee,'' the authority said.

It also suspended the general manager's certificates of Mr
Clark and bar manager Jessie Matheson for 21 days and 42 days
respectively, although the certificates were renewed for 12
and 15 months respectively.

Ms Matheson was convicted last year of breaching the Sale of
Liquor Act 1989, as she was the duty manager at Heffs when it
hosted the wake of a former Mongrel Mob Notorious member,
during which police were called to a gang-related brawl
involving more than 50 people.

Mr Clark was off-duty and drinking alcohol at the function.
His mother and Ms Matheson were in charge.

Yesterday, Mr Clark said the temporary suspension of his and
Ms Matheson's certificates meant he would have to employ
others to be the duty manager.

His certificate was suspended from January 21 and Ms
Matheson's from February 4.

Mr Clark was not happy about the authority's ruling, but said
it could have been worse given what the police wanted.

Dunedin police alcohol harm reduction officer Sergeant Ian
Paulin applied to the authority for Heffs' on-licence to be
cancelled and the manager's certificates of Mr Clark and Ms
Matheson to be suspended.

Mr Clark denied Heffs was a troublesome spot and said its bad
reputation was a thing of the past.

''We haven't had a fight here in 12 months. It's a very well
run operation. We've got no faults here at all. The bar has
been cleaned up. It's just the police are picky. They come in
and look for any small reason.''

Mr Clark applied for the renewal of Heffs' on-licence in
November, when he said the licence expired.

He said that application was delayed pending the authority's
decision on other applications, and he was waiting to hear
whether the on-licence would be renewed.

In its most recent written decision dated last December 21,
the authority hinted that any issues at Heffs should be dealt
with before a renewal decision.

The authority concluded Heffs breached the Sale of Liquor Act
1989 at least five times in a six-month period last year,
despite several warnings and interventions by Sgt Paulin.

It said the licensee ''failed dismally'' to meet obligations
and was not in control.

''It is the expectation of the authority that the performance
of each manager will improve markedly during the renewed
period,'' it said.

Five breaches in a six-month period and they managed to
escape with only a three-day closure? I hold a manager's
certificate myself and find it appalling that these two and
this establishment could fail in their obligations to such an
extent and on so many occasions and still be allowed to hold
a duty manager's certificate and retain its licence.